Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-12-01
LET THEM ALL IN.


Sentinel discusses upon the question Of
she admission Of states as follows:
THE population Of Washington Ter
ritory, according to the recent report Of
the government is over IA 900, The
population of the two Dakotas is not far
from 100000. The population of Utah
was long ago far above reasonable re-
quirement for admission. That Of Mon
tana, though less than the others, is still
il excess Of what would have been
thought ample in the earlier years of the
Republic. Why should we perpetuate,
for partisan reasons or for any reasons,
. condition which is wholly anomalous
which can he rcconciled to our institu-
siens only on the assumption that it is to
b temporary, which is provocative Of
abuses and which involves denial Of
fundamental political rights to those who
have the courage to enter upon and
levslope our public domain? This whole
question Of the admission of territories
has been so obscured by partisan action,
that the people as whole have lost sight
OF the great proposition which lies below
It. That proposition is simply this: that
il il an unwarranted tyranny to continue
the territorial status after the reasons
for establishing it have disappeared !;
quite As grievoas and indefensiblc as
were those acts Of the English govern
ment which drove the colonies into re-
bellion.
The people ought to have no patience
with the debates which are held 10 con-
gress on the subject. Gray headed poll
eicians rise to discourse upon the disad-
vantagcs of statehood, the cost of main
taining state government, and a score
Of other assertions to prove that their
denial Of applications for admission is
founded on a tender anxiety for the
peoples good. Every argument is not
only spscious, it is insolent. Who, for
sooth, made them the judges of what is
best for million Of people? BY what
right do they assume to maintain pater-
nalistic sway over populations moro in.
tslligent, more enterprising and quite as
we'll fitted for selt-government as the
voters in any congressional district in the
United States? We assert asia general
truth, which does admit Of denial or
argument, that, after tho people Of a ter
ritory arc numerous enough to qualify
them for statehood-that is to say, Us
soon a. they number at most not more
than 4 number required to elect con-
gresham elsewhere in tho Union--and
Is soon as it is apparent that they can
set up and confirm republican form OF
government, at that moment their mortal
right to admission is indisputable. There
il no other test.
If we can imagine such thing as a
petition by the majority Of the people
Of . territory requesting congress not to
admit them, but to keep them out Of the
Union, that would be valid reason for
donial. If there is reason to believe
that the new state would not or could
not establish republican form Of gov
srnment, that under the constitution,
would also be sufficient reason for
refusal. And this reason does actually
exist In the case Of Utah, which is other
wise qualified. A community 10 which
the laws Of tho United States arc not
regarded as paramount BY majority of
tho people cannot have republican form
Of government. Utah must be kept out
until she is ready to obey the laws. But,
In the case Of any more territory is there
any more reason for exclusion, or moral
rights to exclude, than there is for con-
gress TO pass law prohibiting the open
ings Of banks or the establishing of pub
lie schools in the territories, on the
ground that these things cost money,
and it is their duty to protect the inter
ests Of community Of extrayagant chill
1ren, who do not know what is best for
them. Idaho and Wyoming are still
comparatively undeve)opsd. They do
net como within the conditions. Meth
Or do New Mexico and Arizona. But,
If congress was governed by anything
but magnifed sense of its functions, if
it did not mistake power for right, if it
did not presume upon the opportunities
for uamitigatcd tyranny and violation Of
the first. principles of self-government
that arc offered by the territorial status,
the two Dakotas, Washington and Mon
taua would be admitted without any
further delay"
ARE YOU MADE miserable BY Indigestion,